Artists are breathing new life into some of the many vacant units across Aberdeen city centre.
The project comes in the wake of a major summit held to address the decline of Union Street following the impact of Covid.
During the crunch discussion session, it emerged that 25% of city centre retail units remain empty – giving the heart of Aberdeen the appearance of a “ghost town”.
Now, Gray’s School of Art has come up with a creative solution for some of the empty units – which could lead to local artists securing their own spaces full-time.
Gray’s creative unit, Look Again, is bringing in various creatives and experimental start-up businesses to stage pop-up ventures in unused units – and have already filled several.
As well as shops, they will serve as exhibition spaces while under short-term lease.
Could the art attack be what’s needed to inject new life, and a dash of colour, into the Granite City?
What shops are being transformed by Aberdeen artists?
Two empty shops on Schoolhill are being done up as part of the plans.
The unit at 1-5 George Street, just outside the Bon Accord Centre on the junction with Schoolhill, will become a plastic recycling centre.
The former L’Occitane en Provence French skincare store will be run by Aberdeen based start-up Origin, and known as Origin Hub.
A few yards away, the 34 Upperkirkgate space next to Dr Noodles has been taken over by Deemouth Artist Studios.
The building was known as Pattersons shoe shop for years.
‘We have always dreamt of this’
Since opening in November 2019, the studios have run several Christmas markets and Open Studio events from their Torry base – but are now looking forward to opening a city centre shop.
Peter Baxter from Deemouth Artist Studios said: “We’ve always dreamt of having a city centre retail space to showcase what is being produced by our artists to a wider public.
“The unit will provide a fantastic venue to present the work of the artists, designers and makers, including, ceramics, jewellery, painting and textiles.
“The shop will add to the shopping experience in Aberdeen, offering ‘something different, something special’ all made locally by people who live and work in the city.”
Meanwhile, the nearby 32 St Andrew Street has already become a space for the project.
The former Berketex bridal shop next to Barnardo’s was empty for several years before being taken over.
A fourth store called DEPARTMNT has been opened by the not-for-profit organisation Second Home.
The department-style offering on Gaelic Lane was a coffee shop but has been empty for more than a decade.
Shops project to help Aberdeen artists get a ‘foothold’
Look Again co-director, Sally Reaper said: “We plan to bring a mix of pop-ups and longer-term tenancies to fill unused spaces.
“This will not only help improve the vibrancy of Aberdeen city centre but also support emerging creatives across the north-east.”
But one challenge to securing permanent bases could be the issue of business rates.
She added: “One of the biggest challenges for small businesses starting up are the rates of city centre spaces.
“If we are to move forward as a city locally or nationally, there has to be a change to the rateable value to re-energise our city centre spaces.
“The project gives small businesses the opportunity to test something out before committing to a longer lease.”
Artists will ‘transform’ Aberdeen shops
Bon Accord Centre manager, Craig Stevenson added: “It is fantastic that we can support the Culture Aberdeen project.
“Giving smaller businesses retail space creates an exciting opportunity while offering something different to the city centre.”
The Culture Aberdeen scheme has been made possible with £150,000 worth of funding from Aberdeen City Council’s Covid recovery fund.
Conversation